University of Tennessee at Chattanooga sophomore Maddison Melchionna has matching school records. After grabbing the indoor track and field record for the 800 meter at the Samford Invitational and today made it a sweep, claiming the school record in the 800m at the War Eagle Invitational at the Hutsell-Rosen Track in Auburn, Ala.
Melchionna covered the middle distance with a time of 2:08.88 topping the previous top mark set by former Moc Anneli (Uys) Morrison in 2009 by 0.11 seconds.
“Maddison looked great,” Chattanooga head coach Bill Gautier said.
“She beat some tough competition and was strong and under control. She’s a tough girl.”
In the women’s 1500 meter, senior Teghan Henderson and sophomore Hannah Chamblin took the top two spots. Henderson won the second heat and was the overall winner with a time of 4:42.01 while Chamblin finished first in the faster heat with a time of 4:42.16.
“Hannah was in the fast heat, but they ran is slow,” Gautier said. “She had to push it. Teghan, being a veteran, knew that she had to start out strong and she did. She ended up with a faster time. They both won their heats and that was great for us.”
Senior Keeley Stewart took second in the women’s 5000 meter with a time of 18:35.34 and the women’s relay finished fifth with a time of 4:00.97.
“It was a slow race,” Gautier said. “The temperatures were getting up into the 80s by the time Keeley ran, but she kept at it. One runner got away and she tried to catch up to her but just couldn’t get there.”
A slew of runners all recorded PRs in the 1500 meter. Junior Katie DeMars bested her previous top time at 4:54.88 and placed 10th overall. She was followed by sophomore Anna Kate Chance (4:57.91) and freshman Haley Morris (4:59.62) who each recorded top times. Freshman Madison Watson finished with a PR time of 5:16.69 and classmate Haley Morris also hit a PR with a time of 5:24.34.
In the 800 meter, junior Jessica York finished 12th with a time of 2:17.57 and Henderson finished 16th at 2:20.74 in her first shorter distance race. Chance covered the course in a time of 2:31.21 while senior Helenka Kis recorded a time of 2:35.04 and McKee finished at 2:39.66.
Sophomore Emily Drouin was sixth in the 3000 meter Steeplechase with a time of 11:13.85, just shy of her PR and senior Kiaana Howard ran the 400 meter in a time of 1:00.00.
“It was great to have Kiaana back. This is her final race of the regular season for her career,” Gautier said. “She’s been out all year and this was a good start back for her.”
In the men’s races, freshman Mark Britt ran the 800 meter in a time of 2:01.47 and was 11th in the 1500 meter with a time of 4:07.39. Freshman John Payne was sixth in the 1500 meter with a time of 4:00.07.
“That was a good PR for John,” Gautier said. “He beat some good, strong runners.”
Next up for the Mocs is the Southern Conference Championships in Cullowhee, N.C., May 12-13.
400m
19. Kiaana Howard 1:00.00
800m
1. Maddison Melchionna 2:08.88
12. Jessica York 2:17.57
16. Teghan Henderson 2:20.74
29. Anna Kate Chance 2:31.21
31. Helenka Kis 2:35.04
32. Lily McKee 2:39.66
1500m
1. Teghan Henderson 4:42.01
2. Hannah Chamblin 4:42.16
10. Katie DeMars 4:54.88
11. Anna Kate Chance 4:57.91
12. Haley Morris 4:59.62
16. Madison Watson 5:16.69
17. Lily McKee 5:24.34
3000m Steeplechase
6. Emily Drouin 11:13.85
5000m
2. Keeley Stewart 18:35.34
4x400m Relay
5. Chattanooga A 4:00.97
Men
800m
22. Mark Britt 2:01.47
1500m
6. John Payne 4:00.07
11. Mark Britt 4:07.39